Goodyear Holds Blimp Ride Auction

A once-in-a-lifetime ride for two on the Goodyear Blimp is up for auction to support an Ohio nonprofit. The trip can be taken from one of three Blimp airship bases, including one in Pompano Beach.

The auction is part of a celebration of the airship's first flight 100 years ago. The Pilgrim airship made its maiden voyage on June 3, 1925, from Wingfoot Lake near Akron, Ohio.

Goodyear Tire Company started building lighter-than-air aircraft in 1910, and by 1912, it had built its first balloon. In 1930, the Defender blimp became the first airship in the world to carry a lit neon sign so the company's name could be seen after dark.

Potential bidders can visit the nonprofit Bounce Innovation Hub’s auction website to learn more and place bids until Sept. 25. As of Sunday, the highest bid was more than $11,000.